Sins of the Undead Patriot (12 page)

She gasped.

With his hands cradling her, he raised her, crushed to him, her full mounds to his chest. He stepped back, lifted his hand over his head and twirled her.

From beneath sleepily seductive half-lowered eyelids, she darted a look up at him, a smile spreading her lips. “Are there other differences I should know of?”

“I don’t want to frighten you off.” He winked. “
Beaute
, I will see to the arrangement of our next outing. Which evenings are you available?”

“Next Thursday.”

“A week from tonight?”

“Uh-huh.”

“All right, Ms. Waltz.” Seven days without seeing her seemed too long.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a card. “If anything changes, call my house number on the back.”

“Thank you.” He slipped the paper into the inside pocket of his coat, then opened her door and held out her key in his palm.

“Thank you for an interesting evening.” She withdrew the key with her silky fingers. “You may check the lock, but no more than twice back to back.”

She was onto him. He swallowed. “Thank you.”

With a grin, she closed the door. The mechanism clicked, and the chain was dragged over. He stepped back. There was no reason for him to verify because he’d heard the door lock. Tension filled his chest. What if it didn’t latch properly? Better he check now before he came off like a weirdo. He stepped onto the porch, turned the knob and pushed in. Met by resistance, he smiled and repeated checking the lock.

Chapter 11

Rowley slowed as he neared Leera’s restaurant office. Rather than a call, he’d swung by in hopes of stealing a few moments with her and a kiss. The door was wedged open slightly, figures moved inside.

He stopped and tilted his head.

“Is my hair a mess?” she asked an undead, removing her hat.

“No,
beaute
, flawless as usual,” it said as it lifted her face with a pale fingertip, while stroking her cheek with a thumb. “Since last night, a very beautiful woman has kept me distracted from the mountains of committee review comments on my desk. I thought of calling, but decided a special delivery was in order.”

It was that thing. No way would she continue to go along with seeing the creature. Rowley stepped closer, his heartbeat thunderous.

“The flowers are beautiful.” She crushed her lips together suppressing a smile.

It wrapped a hand around her waist and pulled her to its body. “I also wanted to let you know that for our next date, it doesn’t much matter what you wear, as our clothing will need to come off.”

“Intriguing. I cannot say I’m going to mind finding out what’s under those expensive suits.” She tugged its dress shirt, peeking up at it from beneath her lashes. “But is this a riddle or are you already trying to get me naked?” Disgusting. The note of flirtation in her voice heated Rowley’s chest. If it so much as...

“You have no idea.” It advanced, forcing her to set her hands on the desk behind them, pushing her breasts into its chest. Its hand roamed up the back of her thigh.

If Rowley didn’t end things this moment, he might pull out a gun and shoot the creature in front of her.

“I have plenty idea.” Rowley shoved the door open, crossed his arms in the doorway and leaned on the frame.

As she let out an exasperated breath, her chest rose then fell. The
thing
withdrew and helped her upright.

“Umm, Rowley.” She locked her hands in front of her. “What are you doing here?”

A hell of a lot less than she was with it. “I’ve come to see you.” What else would he be doing there? He shook his head, eyes closed. How could she allow it to touch her?

“Vaihan, this is the friend I was telling you about. Rowley McKie.”

The friend
! Why did she feel the need to explain who he was to this thing?

“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. McKie.” The creature held out its hand.

Rowley stared at the offering of bone-pale fingers. “So you must be Vaihan Louchian, Special Whoopty-do to the President in Undead Relations.” Was he supposed to be impressed because it had a fancy title?

“Rowley...” She gritted her teeth.

“I hope I’m more than my job title.”

Wouldn’t it? Bet it gave to charity and volunteered too. “I’d say I’m sorry, but that would be a lie. And I won’t. Not to you. Leera, you know how I feel about its kind. I can only say I don’t take pleasure in upsetting you.” He glanced away. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her pain.

“If you can’t be polite, I’ll ask you to leave.” She placed a hand on her hip.

Of course,
he
was the one in trouble.

“Leera, I don’t wish you to argue with your friend,” it said. “I need to head back to the office, so I will take my leave and see you Thursday.” It leaned in and kissed her cheek, then shifted its examining gaze to him.

Rowley stepped close. Let it try more, and he’d shoot it twice between the eyes.

With a slanted smile, it gave him a nod.

Leera smiled at the thing. “Thank you for stopping by. I hope your meeting goes well this afternoon with the president.”

It kissed the back of her hand and found its way out. The door shut.

“I can’t believe you.” Leera’s shoulders drooped and her eyes shot daggers.

“Me? You’re going out with it again. And I find it mauling you in your office. You were flirting with it. It’s disturbing. That’s what that is.” He grabbed her by her upper arms.

“Don’t call him an ‘it,’ and yes, I am.” She yanked free.

“Are you doing this to get back at me?” He stepped closer.

“For what?” She lifted her hands and flipped her palms up.

“For waiting.” By the time he’d gone to Paris, she’d met Jean. He could have objected at her wedding.

“No. Not everything I do is about you. I like him.”

Of course she did. The creature had wormed its way into the hearts of the nation. “Are you suicidal? Maybe you’re looking for an easy way to throw your life away? Let it suck you in until you can’t remember your own name. That’s what they do.”

“Rowley, I’m not eighteen anymore.” She rubbed her forearm.

Exactly. Her younger self had been headstrong. “I’m sorry. I didn’t come here to fight.” Withdrawn and lost better described the older Leera. “I wanted to surprise you.” He placed his hand on her shoulder.

“That, you definitely did. Was it necessary to be rude to my guest?” She chewed her lip.

“I won’t acknowledge its kind as though they belong.” Rowley leaned his forehead against hers. The warmth of her skin seeped into him. “I’m in love with you, and I won’t lose you to it.” He drew her to his chest, cradling her back in his hands.

She wrapped her small arms around his waist and held on. “You are just pushing me away.” Chin raised, she met his gaze.

“I know.” He stepped back and ran his hand through his hair. “I came by to ask you to dress warmly and wear hiking boots tonight.”

She parted her lush lips in a smile. “I can do that.”

“Good, six thirty?” Enough time for her to get home and change, he hoped.

“On the nose.” She took his hand and squeezed. “I should get back to work.”

As he kissed her lips lightly, her eyes widened and she stepped back. “Rowley,” she scolded.

“Soon you’ll be saying my name in a sensual tone.” With a grin, he paused at the door. “I’ll see you shortly.”

An eerie atmosphere loomed in the empty establishment. The lone hostess at the front smiled. Nice pair of legs on her. The bell chimed as he pushed the door open. A brisk wind blew against him. He couldn’t kill the undead, if he wanted it to go down for murdering the president. Nor could he allow the creature to continue to see Leera. He needed to decommission it a while to give himself time with her.

* * * *

Rowley knocked on the red door to Leera’s house. The last two times he’d seen her, things hadn’t gone as well as he’d wanted. Tonight had the potential of going sour. But he intended to get to the bottom of why their relationship had ended, whether she liked it or not.

Leera opened the door, a sexy snow bunny in the flesh.

He cocked his brow. “You look ravishing.”

“Thank you.” She rubbed her glossy pink lips together.

Since Jean’s death, her appetite for life had vanished. He would find a way to revive her. From inside his coat, he slid out a present wrapped in brown paper.

“What’s this for?” She collected the item.

“You.” Despite the tardiness of the gift, he hoped she liked it.

She unwrapped the present, and as she stared at the picture, sadness resided in her eyes.

Lately he couldn’t figure her out or find a way to connect with her. “Inappropriate?” Was she so broken from losing her husband that the woman he loved was gone?

“No, it’s great.” A smile bowed her lips, but he could tell it was forced. “It’s the night you took me to prom.”

“The night I asked you to be mine forever.” She’d given him her virginity. At the time, he’d thought nothing could tear them a part. He’d had the photo duplicated and framed, but never had the chance to give her the copy. After being away with her parents at the cottage over the summer, she was supposed to have moved into his place. She got sick, broke up with him and went off to Paris.

“No, it’s perfect, very thoughtful.” The corner of her mouth trembled, as she put the photo on the fireplace mantel. “I can’t believe our hair.”

Something about that time in their lives made her uneasy. “Your hair always looks great.” Answers better be forthcoming. “Ready?”

“I am.” With long strides, she crossed the room to him.

Warmth traveled through him as he stepped outside and she followed, pulling the door closed. The ground was covered in a dusting of snow.

“Any word on where you are taking me?” She spun toward him.

Anywhere she wanted to go. For now, he’d work to rekindle the flame she once felt for him. “I won’t ruin the surprise.” Rowley opened her door. “Cover your eyes, and no peeking.”

She crushed her lips together. Would she let him taste her mouth? He made his way to the driver’s side, turned on the car and heated seats then reversed onto the road. When they had dated her hands and feet were always cool. He’d liked that she had warmed up by pressing her soft skin to his.

“How’s work been?” he asked her.

“The new short order cook is struggling with some of the stronger personalities.” With a shrug, she leaned back.

“I’m sure you’re helping him fit in.” His Lee-lee always looked out for those who didn’t fit in well with others. Like him.

“I’m trying.” She nodded. “I saw you on the news talking about the Coalition for the Living’s march to the White House tomorrow afternoon. I’m surprised you’re not busy with last minute details.”

He’d opened this can of warms by asking what she was up to. “Devin Sheehan is the details man of the organization’s executive board. I met him not long after you went to Paris. He’s loyal as a dog.” He could only hope she didn’t push. “He’s got everything well in hand.”

“I was never clear on how you earn a living.” The note of curiosity didn’t go unnoticed.

Maybe tonight, he shouldn’t be as elusive as he usually was. “Can we come back to this topic?” The risk of scaring her off if he told her what he was really up to was high.

“Sure.” She lowered her hands from her eyes.

“No peeking,” he reprimanded. “I know that tone. And yes, I am holding back on the subject. At this point, I’m not prepared to tell you anything that might endanger your life. I’m not sure if I will choose to shelter you from all of it, parts, or trust you to handle everything.”

“I’m glad that everyone is so convinced of my inability to deal with things.”

Whoa, where did that come from? “Projecting some irritation with someone else onto me?” His uncle Mick had kept him in therapy most of his youth to help him deal with the trauma of his mother’s murder. What a load of shit that had been. But what the shrink had taught Rowley made it difficult for others to win an argument since he could psychobabble anyone into a corner.

“No. You just said you didn’t know if you needed to shelter me. Poor Leera. She’s fragile and can’t cope with much.”

“Ouch. I didn’t say that.” Not that the observation wasn’t partially true. As the baby of the family, she was spoiled and sheltered. However, he didn’t factor that into his reason. “When I say endanger, I mean your life being at risk. And don’t be upset with Peter, if he isn’t burdening you with his worries. Since Jean died, you haven’t been yourself. We’ve all been concerned about you.”

“Let’s drop this. I don’t want to talk about Peter.” She crossed her arms, glancing out the window. Her mouth dropped open as her gaze lit on the park at Theodore Roosevelt Island “You didn’t?”

“Of course I did, and I promise not to start a fire this time.” That long ago night had ended with him in cuffs–and not the pink fuzzy type.

“This is where you brought me on our first date.” She scanned the area with her dark eyes.